What? No size 10s? February 15, 2008
With finishing up not one but two projects this week, I find that suddenly I have no knitting on the needles. Nothing! Not one little project. Or one big one, for that matter.
What’s a knitter to do?
Well, start something else, of course. 
I have this lovely, huge bag of Philosopher’s Wool in a luscious shade of dark green that I started knitting up years ago. Years. Part of it has been tied up as a cast off knitting project gone south. I started by perusing Ravelry. I found a wonderful cardigan pattern that first appeared in the cyber pages of Knitty in the winter of 2006. It’s called Emerald, and was designed by Amy M. Swenson. Ooh. Emerald. It must be kismet. The color, the pattern name, perfectly in sync. My old yarn should knit up at the perfect gauge.
There’s only one little problem.
Since I so often have to go down a needle size to get gauge, I pulled out a pair of size 9 needles, and swatched. I’m half a stitch off. If I go up a size, to the 10s specified in the pattern, it should be about perfect. I went to my needle drawer, and…
There are no size 10 needles in there.
  
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I looked again. Actually took everything out, gave every set of needles a good, hard look. I have plenty of size 9 needles. There are 10½s in there. But no 10s. I even looked in the drawer where I keep the evil straight needles that make my carpal tunnel flare up if I look at them funny. Nope. No size 10s in there, either.
Anguish!
Dave came in while I was taking picture of the yarn, putting it back in the bag. I told him about my problem. No size 10s. His first question: Not even in straights? Nope. He found it as hard to believe as I do. I guess I won’t be starting this sweater until I can get needles. Gads.
Moving on, as I was forced to do… I decided it was high time I pulled out the yarn and pattern for Amanda’s Squatty Sidekick. I’ve had the yarn for it since last summer, and I still haven’t knit it up. After glancing at the pattern and taking a close look at my yarn I figured (read: hoped) that if I doubled the yarn the gauge would be about right. The pattern calls for worsted weight wool, which normally knits up somewhere between four and five stitches per inch. My swatch was dead on, coming in at five stitches per inch on size six needles. I ripped out the swatch, grabbed my 10½s, the ones I knew I had since I just inventoried my needle drawer, and cast on.
This promises to be a very quick knit. The needles are large, the pattern is small… Just what I need while I figure out what else I can knit while I’m waiting impatiently for Stitches West to arrive, where I’ll buy my size 10 needles. Yes. I’m going. Next week. I’m so excited I could pee in my pants. But I won’t. Promise. But oh! I’ve wanted to go to this for years. Years and years. I moaned Monday night to Dave, everyone at the knit night is going. I’m staying home. Boohoo. He thought I should go! Good opportunity to flash my business card and designs around, get more attention for my patterns. I’ll do that very thing. I’ll also make sure I come home with new yarn for some cool new projects I have in mind. Woot!
You can bet that I’ll take enough of that green Philosopher’s Wool—and the pattern—along to Stitches so that I can start the sweater as soon as I have the needles in hand.
Shar February 15
I love that color!. I’m off to stitches west too. I’m so excited , this will be my third time.
~Kristie February 15
That green yarn is so beautiful. I think it will be perfect with that pattern. How desperate are you for the size 10’s? I have some horrible aluminum straights I could bring you Monday night. Personally I can’t knit with them, but they’re yours if you want them.
I’m still pinching myself that you are coming to Stitches West. Just wait until everyone hears that Monday. They’ll be so excited for you.
KarenJoSeattle February 16
I’m constantly surprised by the needles I do and don’t have, especially since I also match the needle material to my project.
Have a great time at Stitches. It should be a very good marketing oportunity. If you see my friend Karen Alfke, who’s teaching there, say hello.
Robin February 16
Wow, beautiful green yarn. I think that pattern goes well with the yarn, or vice versa. Can’t wait to see some progress photos. How wonderful you get to go to Stitches West. I don’t have 10’s either, just 101/2’s (I was looking for some the other day). Wierd.
Mikki February 16
I think you should use the size 9 needles. Then, when the resulting finished product is too small for you, then you can send it on to your little friend! ME!